LORETO COMMUNITY SCHOOL from MILFORD in Donegal defeated Presentation College, Athenry 3-2 to advance to this seasons FAI Schools Minor Boys Cup final following a pulsating tie in a sun kissed Ray MacSharry Park, Sligo on Tuesday. It was an action-packed encounter with five stunning goals scored; two coming for the penalty spot for either side as well as three players receiving their marching orders at the conclusion of the match! Athenry started on the front foot and were rewarded with the opening goal seven minutes in. Luke Madden was taken down in the box, as Evan HOARTY confidently slotted the ball past Morgan from the spot. However, the lead was short-lived as Milford equalised ten minutes later. Loreto talisman Hugo COOPER with a fabulous strike to connect with a beautiful through ball from an industrious Jamie O’Donnell (1-1).
Milford were to take the lead three minutes before the interval when Diarmuid FADDEN was taken down enroute to goal, the infringement was inside the box. He picked himself up and calmly poked the ball home himself from the spot, 2-1 to the Ulster outfit at the break. Loreto extended their tally eight minutes into the restart with a brilliant turn and shot from Hugo COOPER, his second and Milford’s third of the afternoon, 3-1. Athenry struck two minutes later and went to within one of the Ulster stars when Evan HOARTY produced an excellent strike, his second of the contest. The Milford crew enjoyed more of the possession in the last fifteen minutes but some brave goalkeeping from Grogan kept his side in contention.
It proved to be a frustrating finish to the game for Athenry as Evan Hoarty picked up his second yellow of the game in added time to see Presentation College reduced to ten. Loreto managed the game out in the eight minutes of added time to take a major step forward in their pursuit of a National Cup title. Athenry’s day went from bad to worse following the final whistle when Jonathan Grogan and Luke Madden voiced their dissatisfaction to the match officials which resulted in the duo’s dismissal.
Loreto Community School, Milford will await the winners of the other semi-final which sees Midleton CBS take on Blackrock College in the RSC, Waterford this Thursday, April 30 (1pm). The National Cup Final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 13 with venue to be confirmed.
LORETO COMMUNITY SCHOOL, MILFORD | Jake Morgan, Jack Barrett, Tiernan Kerr, Diarmuid Farren, Eoghan Gallagher, Michael Tinney, Cian Kelly, Darragh Edwards, Hugo Cooper, Jamie O’Donnell ©, Conor Patton
SUBS (ROLL ON/OFF) | Riley Burrows, Kayden Sterritt, Leon Doherty, Saul Hegarty, Ryan Connolly, Tomas Doherty, Tommy Halpin
MANAGEMENT | Gary Doherty, Ephrinn McFadden
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY | Jonathan Grogan, Peadar Cahalan, Matteo Carminati, Paraic Fahy Rabbitt, Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Aaron Byrne, Luke Madden, Adam Lynn ©, Thomas Corbett, Darragh O’Donnell, Evan Hoarty
SUBS (ROLL ON/OFF) | Donagh Cullinane, Noah Kinneen, Rian Finn, Tristan Fitzgerald, David Carbago Murphy, James Byrne, Maksymillian Lukaszewski
MANAGEMENT | David Neylon, Alan Haverty
MATCH OFFICIAL | Alan Gilmartin (Sligo)
